Before you begin your ‘End of Tenancy’ cleaning, keep in mind that it will benefit you if it is done thoroughly clean and meets all of the requirements outlined in your tenancy agreement. If you don’t do this, getting your tenancy deposit back will be the most difficult thing you’ve ever done.
Make sure you replace any damage you caused or incurred during your tenancy. If you leave it to your landlord to take care of it and send you a bill, the cost may be higher than you anticipated. Allow enough time for end-of-tenancy cleaning before the closing date to ensure a thorough cleaning and inspection of the property to your benefit.
Do your own end-of-tenancy cleaning.
It is entirely up to you how you choose to handle your end-of-tenancy cleaning. It is not the property owner’s responsibility. You cannot be forced to hire a certain ‘end of tenancy’ cleaning firm by the property owner. Doing the end-of-tenancy cleaning yourself is the most cost-effective choice. This is a great method to save money on relocation costs.
Before you begin cleaning, make contact with the Property Owner or Letting Agent and request the final inspection checklist. To ensure that you’ve done adequate cleaning, refer to your checklist and the check-in records.
If you want to pass the final inspection, you must clean at least the following objects by following these steps:
1. Pay a visit to the kitchen
Take everything out of the cabinets and shelves. Remove any crumbs and residues, clean both inside and out with a dry towel, and dry completely. Remove all appliances and clean underneath and behind the walls.
Make sure all of the equipment, including the washing machine, dishwasher, and soap tray, are clean. While the main switch is off, clean the refrigerator and keep the doors open to prevent mold. Remove all refrigerator trays, racks, and cabinets and ensure they are preserved in the best possible condition; this procedure should also be repeated for similar appliances with similar characteristics.
2. The Oven and the Hob
If the oven isn’t cleaned on a regular basis, it will accumulate thick coatings of filth, household dust, grease, and burnt food. Nothing can be as worse as cleaning someone else oven while moving into a new apartment. This is the most difficult cleaning job, as it necessitates a great deal of effort, time, and severe cleaning products. Make sure it’s done to perfection, no matter how difficult or exhausting it is. It’s worth noting that the oven is usually the first thing evaluated throughout the inspection procedure.
Also, make sure the Hob isn’t forgotten. Clean the racks, burners, baking trays, switches, handles, and any other surfaces. If you aren’t willing to put in the extra effort to get the oven to its ideal state, don’t start cleaning it at all. It could get a lot worse.
3. The Living Room
In the living room, the most important task is to thoroughly dust and vacuum. Clean the cabinets, bookshelves, coffee table, and all cupboards as well as the television set.
There are numerous uncomfortable places and items to clean in the living room due to full bookcases and extensive décor. As a result, as simple as it appears, it is frequently time-consuming.
4. Visit the Restroom
Wipe off the entire bathroom, including the sink, bathtub, toilet, tiles, mirror, and other fixtures. Check the plug holes and drains for blockages and to ensure that water can flow freely.
Check all metallic surfaces for mold, limescale, and soap scum buildup, such as faucets, showers, and drain grates. Check to see if any of the openings in the shower head are plugged. If you’re certain the holes are plugged, make sure it’s cleaned and running properly.
5. Windows
If you can’t reach the windows from the outside, clean them thoroughly from the inside and hire a window cleaner to help with the outside. Vinegar and alcohol are still the best agents for cleaning glass and windows.
Unless otherwise noted in the check-in records, replace all cracked glass. You must know that windows make the first impression on the property basic cleanliness and if you can make them as clean as possible, the property owner may not pay more attention to other places.
6. Walls
Examine the walls for scuff marks. If possible, wash them off; if not, cover them with an emulsion of the same color. If there are too many marks, it’s critical to do so; otherwise, the property owner may decide to repaint the walls and charge you extra for the decoration.
If there are too many marks, it’s critical to do so; otherwise, the property owner may decide to repaint the walls and charge you extra for the decoration.
7. Furniture
If you have small children, pets, or smoke cigarettes, vacuum your furniture and wash it with a dry-cleaning solution. There must be no hair, unpleasant odors, or smells in the stuffing.
Scuff marks, scratches, and dings on the hardwood upholstery should be avoided. Scuff marks and scrapes can be removed with coffee grinds and nuts. If the markings or scratches are minor, the damage will be hidden.
8. Curtains
If the curtains are washable, wash them according to the manufacturer’s directions. If all of this is too much for you, a trip to the dry cleaners is the best option. Simply dust the curtain rods and all of the property’s fabric blinds. Dust both sides of the venetian blind slates, and replace or repair any blinds that are no longer presentable.
9. Carpets and Rugs
If you want your carpets or rugs to look like new, the best way to accomplish so is to use a steam cleaner.
If you don’t have one, you can hire one for a reasonable price. To eliminate all hair or dirt trapped in the fibres, vacuum all carpets and clean them hard with a wire brush.
10. The Hallways and Staircases
These are high-traffic areas that will require more thorough cleaning. These areas attract a lot of attention.
11. The Outside and the Garden
It’s possible that the garden shed has to be cleaned and organized. Clean the courtyard areas of leaves and dirt. Keep the flower beds in good shape and mow the lawns as needed.
Meeting these cleaning requirements and utilizing the check-in records as a reference will ensure the restoration of your security deposit and save you from a slew of problems that often accompany end-of-tenancy cleaning.